When New York Giants general manager Dave Gettleman traded for New York Jets defensive lineman Leonard Williams before the trading deadline last March, he put the club in a precarious spot.
Williams was in the the final year of his contract and the Giants were going nowhere. It made no sense for Gettleman to surrender draft capital (a 2020 3rd round pick – No. 68 overall – and 2021 5th round pick, which could become a fourth rounder) for a player who could very well walk in free agency.
To save face, now, Gettleman must sign Williams, meaning he will likely overpay as competitors will try to drive up the price on him. How much will it end up costing the Giants?
From Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv
The Giants are intent on re-signing defensive lineman Leonard Williams, which is the only way to justify the third- and fifth-round picks they sent to the Jets for him (that fifth-rounder becomes a fourth-rounder if the Giants re-sign him before March 18). And that could be costly since Williams has said he wants a “big contract” because he thinks he’s a “top-tier interior defensive lineman.”
That would put the 25-year-old Williams, at least in his mind, in the $15 million per year range.
Should the Giants not be able to reach a long-term deal and use the franchise tag on Williams, it will cost them approximately $15-17 million for next season. A transition tag deal would cost them around $13 million based on 2019 tag values.
Williams became a galvanizing force in the Giants’ defensive front the second half of last season, especially against the run. He is worthy of a nice chunk of change, but he’s worth at least $12 million per.
What most fans do not take into account was that the Jets sent $4 million to the Giants to defray some of the cost for Williams. That money’s gone, but at least it was something. Williams is now comfortable in Blue but the Giants aren’t expecting a home town discount from him.
As Ralph pointed out, the Giants are “intent” on signing Williams and have the money to do so. This initiative could end up causing a domino effect resulting of some other veterans getting released.